Down to Earth on Shellmaker

Alex Coolman

On the wall of his office on Shellmaker Island, John Scholl, a wildlife

interpreter for the state Department of Fish and Game, has a diagram of

the watershed for Upper Newport Bay.

It’s a big picture: the watershed, which is the area of land whose runoff

feeds water into the bay, extends not only out to the immediate area

around the estuary, but far inland to communities like Lake Forest,

Tustin, Santa Ana and Irvine.

That’s why teaching people about the watershed is the top priority for

Scholl at this Sunday’s “Earth Day 2000” events.

Pollutants that end up in gutters and on lawns in areas around Newport

Beach don’t just go away, Scholl said. They pour down into the bay at the

first sign of rain.

Sunday’s event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., will feature a variety

of displays designed to draw awareness to environmental issues, with a

particular emphasis on those issues that directly affect the bay.

The day will feature environmental exhibits, canoe and kayak tours, and

petting tanks with fish and other marine creatures.

“A lot of people are surprised by the marine life” to be found in local

waters, said Grace Yick, a park ranger with the county Department of

Harbors, Beaches and Parks.

Though the bay copes with significant pollution problems, it’s also home

to bat rays, snowy egrets, top smelt and many other animals.

In the old days, Scholl said, there were even sea horses breeding in the

eel grass.

“If we can restore conditions,” he said, “abundant life is going to be

coming back into the bay.”

For information about this weekend’s events, call (949) 640-6746.

FYI

Other Earth Day/Volunteer Connection Day events around Newport-Mesa this

weekend:

* A “Neighbors for Neighbors Community and Park Cleanup,” which aims to

help repair and restore single-family homes in Costa Mesa, takes places

from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday. About 200 volunteers are needed. For

information, call (714) 754-4892.

* Orange Coast College is presenting a “Green Fair” on Tuesday and

Wednesday on its campus, with events that will feature speakers from

environmental organizations such as the Green Party of Orange County and

CalPIRG. For more information, call (714) 432-5131.